Michaels, Mrs. Greens coming to Gateway Center

Hour Photo/Alex von Kleydorff
The former Borders space on Route 7 in Wilton will be occupied by Michaels, an arts and crafts store.

Hour Photo/Alex von Kleydorff
The former Borders space on Route 7 in Wilton will be occupied by Michaels, an arts and crafts store.

Photo: 2013 The Hour Newspapers

Photo: 2013 The Hour Newspapers

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Hour Photo/Alex von Kleydorff
The former Borders space on Route 7 in Wilton will be occupied by Michaels, an arts and crafts store.

Hour Photo/Alex von Kleydorff
The former Borders space on Route 7 in Wilton will be occupied by Michaels, an arts and crafts store.

Photo: 2013 The Hour Newspapers

Michaels, Mrs. Greens coming to Gateway Center

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WILTON -- Two major chain stores, one focused on arts and crafts and another on organic foods, are expected to open on Danbury Road by the end of the month.

Michaels is set to open on Aug. 16, while Mrs. Greens Natural Market will open at the end of the month. The openings will fill out three spaces left vacant at Gateway Shopping Center for the past few years.

"We are ecstatic to have them," said Brian Fielding, a manager of Gateway Shopping Center, in a phone interview Thursday.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at Michaels on Aug. 25. Mrs. Greens does not yet have an exact opening date.

Michaels is based in Irving, Texas, and has more than 1,100 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each store offers about 40,000 products for arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor, beads, scrapbooking and seasonal decorations.

The company owns 13 other businesses in Connecticut. The closest one is in Stamford.

Mrs. Greens seeks to deliver a healthy lifestyle to its customers, Fielding said. He said the company was recently purchased by a Canadian buyer, and is undergoing a redesign of its stores.

"I think people will be very excited to see it," said Fielding.

With 11 stores already open, the company is set to establish five new businesses including Wilton. Stamford and Fairfield currently have their own Mrs. Greens locations.

Fielding said the former Zeytinia food market and Washington Mutual bank spaces in the plaza were combined for Mrs. Greens. Zeytinia closed in 2010, and Washington Mutual closed about two years ago, Fielding said.

"We are thrilled to be joining the Wilton community and we hope everyone will come out to help us celebrate during our grand opening week," said Michaels store manager Ron Cornelius in a press release from the company.

Michaels will fill the space vacated by Borders, which left in 2011.

"Our new store features thousands of products that will inspire every crafter at any level from beginning to expert, plus classes for customers to learn new skills in painting, cake decorating, knitting, scrapbooking and more," said Cornelius.

On Wednesday, construction workers could be seen renovating the Michaels space. Near the plaza's parking lot entrance stood a sign stating "Michaels, Coming Soon!"

The ribbon cutting ceremony will start at 9:45 a.m. and the business' doors will open at 10 a.m. Michaels will give away more than $1,000 in gift cards and prizes hourly throughout the day, according to the press release.

Customers can win items that day from playing a prize wheel, which includes art supplies, jewelry, stickers, colored tape and more.

"The celebration continues through the week with gift basket giveaways each evening, and kids can explore their creativity with $2 kids crafting events on Saturdays," the press release said.

The store will be approximately 19,600 square feet in size and employ more than 60 people. Those interested in applying to work at the store can visit the company's website.

First Selectman Bill Brennan has said 32,000 cars drive on Route 7 every day, and that it is a highly desirable location.

Gateway Shopping Center houses such major businesses as TJ Maxx and Outback Steakhouse. Located near the Norwalk border, it holds 75,000 square feet of space.

Michaels in Wilton will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and can be reached at (203) 762-7213, according to Michaels' website.